Monday, June 15, 2009

Decision: "Glen" Does Not Equal "Scotch."

On Thursday, the Supreme Court of Canada refused to hear the Scotch Whisky Association’s (SWA) appeal of a Federal Court of Appeal decision. The ruling allows Glenora Distillery of Nova Scotia to register the name "Glen Breton, Canada’s only single malt whisky," under the Trademarks Act of Canada.

I wrote about this last Tuesday, the day the SWA announced its intention to appeal.

The Supreme Court of Canada works fast.

In reporting the Court's decision, the Chronicle Herald of Halifax provided some interesting background. Apparently, the SWA first registered their objections nine years ago. The attorney Glenora hired is a sole practitioner out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, named David Copp, who is originally from Cape Breton. You can read that story here.

Although this settles the matter so far as sales in Canada are concerned, the SWA said Friday it could take action outside Canada (read: USA) depending on how Glenora markets its products internationally.